Drawer suspension



Jan. 20, 1959 I Y ,J.- R. GOMERSALL DRAWER SUSPENSION INVENTOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 29, 1955 3 k z h j omensall MIA J Jan. 20 1959 J. R. GOMERSALL 2,869,961

DRAWER SUSPENSION Filed Aug. 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Unite 1 DRAWER SUSPENSION John R. Gomersall, Elgin, IlL, assignor to McGraw- Edison Compauy, a corporation of Delaware Application August 29, 1955, Serial No. 531,074

' scams. (or. 312-339 The present invention relates to a novel suspension fordrawers and the like, and more particularly to a novel extensible drawer suspension of the type which permits a drawer to be substantially fully extended from a cabinet.

The novel extensible drawer suspension of the present invention has particular utility in food preserving cabinet structures wherein a drawer is to be raised into cooperative engagement with a cover within the cabinet when the drawer is in its closed position, but it is understood that the novel suspension may also be utilized in other types of cabinet structures. Heretofore proposed extensible drawer suspensions of the general type contemplated herein have for the most part been satisfactory. However, it has been found that as a result of practical tolerances in the structure, the looseness or play necessary for insuring free motion, and the ability of portions of the suspension to be deflected when the drawer is open, it has been possible for the drawer to become laterally separated from the suspension when the drawer is open and it is inadvertently pushed sideways. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide an improved extensible drawer suspension of the general type mentioned above, which suspension is constructed so as to preclude lateral separation of the drawer from the suspension when the drawer is in an extended position.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel drawer suspension of the above mentioned type which includes retaining or guide means for preventing lateral separation of the drawer from the suspension when the drawer is in an extended position, which means is constructed and arranged so as to avoid interfering with other portions of the suspension or cabinet structure while the drawer is being moved to and from an extended position and a closed position vertically spaced from its normal operating level.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein: t

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a cabinet structure including the novel features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View showing a portion of the improved suspension including retaining means for preventing unauthorized lateral sep-;

aeration of a drawer from the suspension;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional. view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the drawer and suspension in retracted or closed positions;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view partially broken away to show another slightly modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view partially Patented Jan. 20, 1959 broken away to show a further modified form of the present invention; and I Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view takenalong line 8.-.-8 in Fig. 7.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings when like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a structure embodying the principles of the present invention includesa cabinet 10 of known construction and having a drawer opening 12 therein, a drawer 14 and an extensible suspension 16 supporting the drawer for movement to and from the extended and retracted closed positions respectively shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The suspension 1'6 includes a stationary cabinet member 18 having an upstanding web portion 2t lower and upper laterally extending flanges 22 and 24 respectively providing upwardly and downwardly facing track surfaces. An intermediate member 26 is movably supported on the stationary cabinet track member and in turn m0v ably supports drawer track-means 28 fixed to a side 3%] of the drawer. The intermediate member is supported on the stationary cabinet member by means of a plurality of rollers 32, 34 and 36 which are mounted to and spaced along a lower portion of an upstanding web 38 of the intermediate member and ride on the upwardly facing track surface of the track or fiange 22. The drawer track member 28 rides on the rollers 32 -36;. Preferably the drawer track is provided by a pair of angle irons 39 and 40 having laterally extending flange or track portions .42 and'44 disposed in abutting relationship. In order to prevent the intermediate member and the drawer from tilting downwardly when the drawer is in an extended position as shown in Fig. 1, rollers 46 and 48 are spaced along an upper portion of the upstanding web 38 for engaging the downwardly facing track surfaceof the flange 24 and the upwardly facing track surface of the drawer track flange 44. A plurality of additional rollers 50 is mounted on flanges 52 and 54 of the intermediate member and arranged in the manner shown in Fig. 4 for engaging the vertical portions of the stationary cabinet track member and the drawer track member to prevent them from coming into sliding fric-- tional contact with the intermediate member.

As shown in Fig. 4 a cover 56 is providedwithin the cabinet and is mounted by any suitable means, not shown, for engagement with an upper edge of the drawer. 1'4;

and means is provided for raising the drawer above its normal operating level for engagement with the cover. More specifically an upwardly inclined bump 553;- 115131 0", vided in the lower track portion 22 of the stationary cabinet member and is-positioned; so that the roller 36; rides up thereon when the intermediate member moves to its retracted position. The roller 36 intu rn raises the inner end of the drawer track. In order to raise the forwardend of the drawer track and thus the drawer, adepending bump 60' is formed in. the drawer track flange. 42:

for engagement with the roller 32 as shown in Fig. 4.

When the drawer and an intermediate member are extended as shown in Fig. l, the necessary loosenes s or play in the system and the flexibility of the sheet metal and intermeditae member are in the extended positions.

More specifically a retaining or guide member 62 is provided which has a base portion 64 welded or otherwise secured to the upper flange 54 of the intermediate member and an upstanding flange portion 66. A complementary guide or retaining member 68 is welded or otherwise secured to the side 36 of the drawer. The member 63 has a base portion 70 abutting the drawer side, a laterally extending portion 72 adapted to project over the upper edge of the retaining flange 66, and a depending flange portion 74 engageable with the flange 66. Preferably opposite end portions 76 and 78 of the flange 74 are flared away from the drawer in the manner shown so as to guide the flange 74 around the outer surface of the flange 66. The flared end portion 76 functions to guide the cooperating retaining flanges 66 and 74 into engagement when the drawer is moved from a retracted position to the extended position, and the flared end portion 78 serves to guide the flange 74 around the flange 66 when the drawer is initially assembled with the intermediate member. It should be noted that the retaining members 62 and 68 are relatively short as compared with the length of the intermediate member and of the drawer and that the member'62 is located adjacent the forward or outer end of the intermediate member and the retaining member 68 is located toward but spaced from the inner end of the drawer so that it will be fully withdrawn from the cabinet when the drawer is extended. With this arrangement the retaining members cooperate with each other when the drawer is extended and when there is a need for preventing the drawer and intermediate member from becoming laterally separated while at the same time the retaining members are sufficiently short so as to minimize the possibility of interfering with other parts of the cabinet structure when the drawer is retracted and raised and so as to minimize the cost of the retaining means. As will be understood the intermediate member will be driven at about one-half of the speed of the drawer when the drawer is pushed into or pulled from the cabinet. Thus, if, for example, the retaining or guide members 62 and 68 are formed so that they are about two inches long they will at least partially overlap each other during about four inches of motion of the drawer when the drawer approaches or recedes from its extended position. Thus the retaining members will cooperate with each other at substantially all extended or partially extended positions of the drawer and intermediate member wherein it would be possible for the drawer and intermediate member to become laterally separated while at the same time the retaining members will be disengaged from each other when the drawer is at least partially retracted or shut and they are not needed so as to avoid sliding frictional contact which might interfere with free smooth movement of the drawer as the drawer approaches or is pulled from its fully closed position.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a modified form of the present invention which is similar to the above described structure as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suffix a added to corresponding ele ments. This embodiment diflers in that the above described retaining member 68 has been replaced by a pin 68a secured to the side a of the drawer and having an enlarged head 76a disposed for cooperating with the retaining flange 66a on the intermediate member. This embodiment has the advantage of providing a simplified and more economical retaining means.

Fig. 6 shows another modified form of the present invention which is similar to the above described struc tures as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suffix b added to corresponding elements. This embodiment differs in that in addition to its primary function, the roller 32b serves in place of the above described retaining member 62 on the intermediate member, and the retaining member 68b is mounted on the drawer track flange 44b for cooperative engagement with the roller 32b when the drawer is in an extended position. It will be appreciated that in this emspecifically the retaining member 620 is secured to the.

tower flange 520 of the intermediate member, and the retaining member 680 is secured to the angle iron 39c oi the drawer track member.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A suspension for drawers and the like comprising a stationary member, drawer means movable to and from retracted and extended positions, an intermediate member disposed between and movable relative to said stationary member and said drawer means to and from extendedand retracted positions, said intermediate member being supported by said stationary member and supporting said drawer means, a short retaining member having a base portion secured to said intermediate member and having a generally upright flange disposed adjacent an'outer end portion of said intermediate member, and short retaining means having a base portion secured to said drawer means and having a depending flange for engagement with said first mentioned flange when the drawer means and intermediate member are adjacent said extended position to prevent relative lateral separation of the intermediate member and drawer means and for.

disengagement from the first mentioned flange when said drawer meansis in said retracted position, one of said flanges having opposite end portions flaring away from the other of said flanges for guiding said one flange around the other flange during both assembly and operation of the suspension.

2. A suspension for drawers and the like comprising a stationary member, drawer means movable to and from retracted and extended positions, an intermediate member disposed between and movable relative to said stationary member and said drawer means to and from extended and retracted positions, said intermediate memher being supported by said stationary member and supporting said drawer means, means for raising said drawer means above its normal operating level when said drawer means approaches its retracted position, relatively short retaining means on said intermediate member adjacent an outer portion thereof, and relatively short retaining means on said drawer means, movable relative to said relatively short retaining means on said intermediate member, and A spaced substantially from its outer end and engageable with said first mentioned retaining means when the drawer means and intermediate member are adjacent said extended positions for retaining the drawer means and intermediate member against lateral separation, said sec-' first mentioned retaining means comprises a roller mounted on said intermediate member and engaging said stationary member for supporting said intermediate member on the stationary member.

.5. A suspension for drawers and the like, as defined in 'claim 2, wherein said first mentioned retaining means comprises a sheet material member having a base portion secured to said intermediate member and an upstanding flange portion, and said second mentioned retaining means includes a sheet material member having a base portion secured to said drawer means and a de pending flange engageable with an outwardly facing surface of said first mentioned flange.

6. A suspension for drawers and the like, as defined in claim 5, wherein said depending flange has an outwardly flared end portion for guiding the depending flange around said upstanding flange portion when said first and second mentioned retaining means are moved together from spaced apart positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,099,148 Tobey Nov. 16, 1937 2,551,843 Knuth May 8, 1951 2,687,924 Gomersall Aug. 31, 1954 

